Chances are that you play games on your computer, and if you do, chances are that you’ve tried playing with a gamepad at some point or another. If you’re like me, you’ve probably gotten frustrated at how awkward it can be to play games on your computer with just a gamepad instead of the standard mouse and keyboard setup.
Luckily, there are plenty of programs that allow you to easily map your gamepad to any controller layout for any game and even include different profiles for different games!
X360ce
We recommend the X360ce because it’s compatible with the Xbox 360 controller which is a relatively affordable controller that has been well-tested on gaming consoles.
The great thing about this program is that you can actually calibrate your controller to work just like the console controllers so it’ll make playing games feel more natural.
This program doesn’t have any other advanced features, but it does allow you to customize your controller buttons so they’ll work better for you or for a certain game if there are particular keys that need tweaking.
It also fixes problems with the controller that arise from having different hardware versions of the Xbox 360. If you want something simple and cheap, then this is an excellent option!
This is really handy when using computers with no touchscreen capability such as laptops, or even desktops without monitors; however, don’t expect much functionality without a mouse either!
Gamers who don’t care about editing macros should try JoytoKey since it allows users to control games without relying on a mouse or keyboard, giving them the freedom to play in another room or outside in nature.
On top of its keyboard emulation ability, JoytoKey
Pinnacle’s gamepads are one of the most popular on the market, so it’s no surprise that they have a good profile for them.
This software is designed to be used with their controllers and comes with many customization options that allow you to change button mapping, and sensitivity, or even create your own macros.
You can use this software for any game that you want to play on your PC, Mac, or Xbox One. As well as being compatible with other gamepads.
The downside? If you’re not using an official controller from Pinnacle then there will be some work involved in setting up the profile before you start playing anything too complicated.
All in all, if you’re looking for something quick and easy to set up then this is a great choice.
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MotioninJoy
Overall, MotioninJoy is probably one of the best free gamepad profilers out there. It has a very sleek interface with easy-to-understand menus that allow you to configure your controller quickly.
It has a lot more features than most other gamepad profilers as well which makes it a great choice for gaming enthusiasts on a budget. The downside? It’s not supported on Mac OS X or Linux.
Since it’s open source, many people have created their own builds of MotioninJoy for Mac OS X and Linux but they’re only available for download through unofficial channels such as GitHub.
Despite this, MotioninJoy is still worth a try if you need something quick, simple and cost-effective. You can download the installer here.
ControllerMate
ControllerMate is available for both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. It can work with any type of USB game controller including those with analog sticks, D-pads, triggers, face buttons, shoulder buttons, or joysticks.
It can also work with a variety of game controllers including Xbox 360 controllers, PlayStation 3 controllers, and others.
It can map to the keyboard or mouse input on the computer so that you don’t need to worry about having to use the same button for two different things.
It also has some other features that are pretty neat like profile management which helps in keeping your profiles tidy and organized.
ControllerMate will cost $5 per license when you download it from their website.
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reWASD
It is a very comprehensive gamepad profiler with a lot of options, but the interface is not very intuitive.
It can be used on both Mac and Windows, which makes it one of the more versatile profilers on the list. It also offers two different ways to calibrate your controller so that you don’t have to worry about offset values.
All in all, reWASD is probably best for people who already know what they are doing. The lack of intuitiveness means that it will take some time before you get the hang of things if you haven’t been using this kind of software before.
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JoyToKey
The downside of JoyToKey, however, is its compatibility issues with certain games. It does not work with every game out there. On the other hand, it’s free so you don’t have to worry about any limitations if you don’t want to spend any money.
It’s also one of the more popular gamepad profilers for PCs on the market today. Moreover, this software provides a huge array of features and tools that allows users to customize their experience.
You can create keyboard shortcuts or assign joystick buttons in order to automate keystrokes or even use scripts from custom editors for particular games. However, you need a wired Xbox 360 controller for this program to work properly as well as an active internet connection during the installation process.
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Sony DualSense Controller
Sony has come up with a controller that can transform into two controllers, one for each hand.
This is a great option for gamers who like to play with two hands. The Sony DualSense Controller features dual analog sticks, which are located on the front of the controller, as well as X/Y buttons at the top center.
There are also four shoulder buttons at the top corners of the DualShock 4 controller: L1/L2 and R1/R2. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that many games support the DualShock 4 controller.
You may find yourself using these controls if you’re playing Destiny 2 or Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy on PS4. If you don’t want to buy an extra gamepad and your computer supports Bluetooth, then it might be worth buying a USB adapter so you can use your Playstation controller with your computer.
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